BeadForLife eradicating poverty among women

Co-founders Torkin Wakefield, Ginny Jordan, and Devin Hibbard, of Colorado, US,  walked the streets of a Ugandan slum, where they came upon a woman making beautiful paper beads. This woman and her children all worked during the day at a backbreaking hard-labor job just to make enough money to buy one meal a day for the family.

The American women were astounded at the poverty there and at the same time the beauty of the beads this woman was making. They purchased several from the woman and wore them throughout their visit, piquing the interest of others.

Upon their return to the States, the three women were determined to make a difference for the women living in poverty, and BeadsForLife was born. This was 2004. Their mission is:

BeadforLife creates sustainable opportunities for women to lift their families out of extreme poverty by connecting people worldwide in a circle of exchange that enriches everyone.

Pittsburgh-based Chatham University is playing a key role in BeadForLife:

We are excited to feature Chatham University and its Social Work Is for Real (SWIRL) club as our featured partner. Chatham's commitment to women's leadership, sustainability and global understanding makes it a perfect fit with BeadforLife. For the past 5 years Chatham's SWIRL club has raised nearly $10,000 for BeadforLife, and hosted 

The Opportunity Tour on their campus in Pittsburgh, PA. Webale Nyo, Nyo (Thank You So Much) Chatham University and SWIRL for your unending passionate support of BeadforLife."

You can get involved with BeadForLife in one or more of these ways:

•   Host a bead party at home, work, church, school, social gathering or a community event.

The funds you raise by selling our recycled paper bead jewelry and shea butter body care products will be invested in programs that empower impoverished."

 

We are a Fair Trade Federation member and aprovisional member of the World Fair Trade Organization. We offer wholesale opportunities to stores worldwide; join the movement and learn how your ethical purchases make a positive impact in the world marketplace.

 

 

 

·      Volunteer

·      Donate

Please visit BeadForLife  here to contribute in whichever way you’d like.